Throwin' shade at the canopy pull strap.

The rubber circle at the end of the awning strap that you hook the awning pole into snapped during our last outing as I was rolling it up. The awning took off like a shot and smacked hard against the camper before I could catch it. The fabric loop at the end of the strap is still there but trying to thread the pull rod through it is like trying to thread a needle from 5 feet away as it is just out of my reach without a stepstool.

An $11 replacement strap is available from Amazon.



I'll probably end up buying the replacement but the tinker in me says that I can MacGyver up something better that won't break again at an inopportune moment. I'd like a metal loop that won't break, is easy to attach and leave on the strap that won't beat the snot out of the siding as I go down the road.

Three ideas so far.

1. Douse a metal split ring, since there are plenty lying around the house, with multiple coats of Plasti Dip (AFTER slipping it into the nylon loop) which seems to be kind of messy.



2. These ridiculously expensive Hook It Clips - Rubber Coated Stainless Steel Caribiner - Certified 2:1 650 Lb Work Load - Color Coded - 2 Pack $24.99


3. Combine the two above ideas and Plasti Dip a heavy duty stainless carabiner.


What would YOU do? There are no wrong answers here.